Voter Registration and Turnout
Voter registration is a strong indicator of citizen commitment to their communities. The Hampton Roads region ranks third highest in voter registration rates among the regions in Virginia.
Why is This Important?
The Hampton Roads region seeks to have citizens who are informed and engaged, and who actively participate in their communities. Voting not only helps to ensure that the results of an election accurately reflect the will of the people, but also serves as a measure of how engaged people are in their communities.
How is Hampton Roads Doing?
There
are various ways to look
at voter registration
and turnout. One method
is to measure the number
of ballots counted as
a percent of the estimated
voting age population
(VAP). This measure reflects
the percentage of the
population who register and vote.
In 2008, the Hampton
Roads region placed third
among Virginia's eight
regions with 62.1 percent
of the VAP casting ballots.
This compares with the
Central region's rate
of 66.9 percent (highest
in state) and the state
average of 63.0 percent.
.png)
Registration
rates are available over
time for the voting age
population. The Virginia
State Board of Elections
reported that 81.9 percent
of Virginia's VAP had active
registrations for the 2010 federal elections. The
Hampton Roads region ranked fourth in registration rates
with 82.6 percent (just behind the Northern region's 82.7%), while
the Eastern region had
the highest registration
rate at 84.1 percent.
What Influences Voter Registration and Turnout?
Presidential elections play a significant role in determining voter registration and turnout rates. In years with a presidential election, such as 2004 or 2008, voters turned out at a much higher rate than in years with only congressional or gubernatorial elections, such as 2005 or 2009. Voting patterns among all demographic groups in every state closely follow this trend.
Registration requirements also may impact whether people vote, including:
- Registration before election day
- Cut-off dates for registration
- The length of time at a new residence
- Convenience of registration
Data Definitions and Sources
Source for local Voter Turnout using VAP: U.S. Election Assistance Commission, Election Administration and Voting Survey.
Source for Virginia state and locality Voter Registration using VAP: Virginia State Board of Elections. Registrations are registrations recorded at close of registration books prior to the November election.
The Voting Age Population (VAP) is the estimated number of people over the age of 18 in an area. The VAP estimate includes people who are ineligible to vote such as illegal aliens or felons, but excludes resident voters living abroad, such as for military or work reasons.
See the Data Sources and Updates Calendar for a detailed list of the data resources used for indicator measures on Hampton Roads Performs.
